Air India vs British Airways vs Virgin Atlantic from London to India 2026 — Prices, Cabins and Which One to Actually Book

All three airlines fly nonstop from Heathrow to India. All three serve Delhi and Mumbai. All three quote fares within the same general range in off-peak months. And yet, if you pick the wrong one for your cabin class, your travel style, or your specific departure date, you'll spend 9 hours somewhere between vaguely comfortable and actively regretful. The decision matters more than most travellers treat it.

This is the honest 2026 version. Not a press release for any of them. Air India from £302 in off-peak months is genuinely competitive — but on the wrong aircraft, it's a mediocre experience. British Airways is investing seriously in its product this year. Virgin Atlantic's premium economy is the strongest in the sky at its price point on this route. Here's the full cabin-by-cabin breakdown, with a clear verdict for each type of traveller.

FlyFlick searches across 700+ airlines and booking platforms in one search — compare all three airlines on your specific dates before committing to one.

Price Comparison: What All Three Actually Cost in 2026

Before the cabin detail, the numbers.

Sources: FlyFlick flight search, Google Flights, Expedia UK — April 2026. Prices include taxes, subject to change.

The economy gap between Air India and Virgin Atlantic is £183 at entry level — about £366 per couple, or enough to cover 4–5 nights of solid mid-range accommodation in Delhi. That's a real difference. But the question "is Air India's economy better than Virgin's economy at £183 less?" depends heavily on one variable that the price table doesn't show: which aircraft you're on.

The honest answer before we go any further: Air India's new A350-900 economy is genuinely competitive with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic at any price. Air India's older, unrenovated Boeing 787-8 economy is not. Getting clarity on that distinction before you book is the single most important thing this comparison can tell you.

Air India Economy: The Aircraft Lottery That Defines Everything

Air India expanded its Heathrow operations from October 2025, operating four daily Delhi flights — two on Airbus A350-900 and two on Boeing 787-9 aircraft — ensuring consistent availability of its best widebody cabin products on the route. The A350-900 features RECARO CL3710 economy seats with a 31–32 inch pitch, individual screens with the Thales AVANT Up IFE system, USB-A and USB-C charging at every seat, and improved cabin air quality from the composite fuselage construction that reduces passenger fatigue on long hauls.

Air India's retrofitted Boeing 787-8, completed April 2026, has been completely reconfigured from a two-class to a three-class layout with brand new RECARO seats and the Thales AVANT Up IFE system — with 25 other 787s undergoing the same refresh. On these aircraft, the economy experience is modern, functional, and significantly better than Air India's reputation from three years ago. The screens work. The seats recline. The food — genuinely one of Air India's consistent strengths — is proper Indian cuisine, not an approximation.

The problem: not all of Air India's 787-8 fleet has completed the retrofit cycle, and older unrenovated aircraft still operate some Heathrow India rotations. On these older aircraft, passenger experience reviews tell a different story — IFE systems failing across entire seat sections, tray tables that don't hold properly, and the persistent absence of the small touches that differentiate a 9-hour flight from a tolerable endurance test. The cabin crew on Air India is widely regarded as warm and service-oriented on most flights — but crew warmth doesn't fix a broken entertainment screen over the Arabian Sea.

How to check which aircraft you're getting: Look up your specific flight number on SeatGuru or FlightAware after booking. Aircraft registrations in the VT-JEA to VT-JEZ series indicate the new retrofitted fleet. The A350 registrations (VT-JRA series) are the newest and best. Older 787-8s in the VT-AIL to VT-AIP range are the unrenovated aircraft. This 30-second check genuinely changes the booking decision on Air India.

Air India's unique advantage no competitor can match: It is the only airline of the three that flies nonstop to Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Amritsar from the UK. For travellers whose India destination is not Delhi or Mumbai, Air India's route network is the conversation — British Airways and Virgin Atlantic simply don't serve these cities nonstop from London.

Air India's new A350-900 and retrofitted 787-9 economy cabins represent a genuine step forward from the airline's older fleet — but checking your specific aircraft registration before booking remains the most important step for any Air India long-haul booking in 2026.

British Airways Economy: The Refreshed Product and the Starlink Advantage

British Airways' economy product has historically been the airline most often described as "fine" — functional, predictable, neither exciting nor disappointing. In 2026, two changes shift that assessment meaningfully.

British Airways is rolling out free Starlink WiFi across its long-haul fleet in 2026 — a development that has directly prompted Virgin Atlantic to accelerate its own WiFi expansion plans. On a 9-hour overnight flight from London to Delhi, free WiFi changes the utility of the journey for business travellers and anyone who uses flight time productively. Air India offers paid WiFi on select aircraft. Virgin Atlantic offers paid WiFi. British Airways is moving to free — and on routes where departure times create overnight or early morning arrivals, that distinction matters.

British Airways has also recently completed cabin refreshes on its 787-9 fleet, installing updated premium economy seats with larger screens, and the refresh programme continues across other long-haul aircraft through 2026. The 777-200ERs that still operate some Heathrow–India rotations are the aircraft type that give BA's product the most mixed reviews — Boeing 777-200ERs have lower cabin pressure than the 787 or A350, which translates to measurably higher passenger fatigue on a 9-hour flight. When you're booking British Airways, check whether your flight operates on a 787 or 777. The 787 is consistently rated better. The 777 is the aircraft BA is gradually retiring from its best routes.

British Airways' third daily Heathrow–Delhi service launches September 19, 2026, on Boeing 787-8 — expanding from 14 to 21 weekly Delhi flights. The practical benefit: more departure time options. Pre-September, BA's Delhi schedule offers morning and evening departures. Post-September 19, a third slot opens. For travellers who've previously had to take Air India's 2 AM departure or Virgin's late-evening service, BA's expanding timetable gives more civilised options.

BA's food in economy — called World Traveller — is competent long-haul catering. Not as distinctively good as Air India's Indian cuisine offering, not as innovative as Virgin's menu. The service is professional, occasionally warm, and reflects the mixed crew experience of a large airline with a varied employee base. Where BA consistently earns praise: the boarding process from Terminal 5 is among the most efficient of any Heathrow long-haul terminal, and the lounges — for eligible passengers — are excellent.

BA's route depth advantage: British Airways flies nonstop to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad from Heathrow — a network that rivals Air India's UK coverage for breadth. For travellers flying to Chennai or Hyderabad nonstop from London, BA is the only non-Air India option.

British Airways' free Starlink WiFi rollout across its India routes in 2026 is the most significant product upgrade the airline has made on long-haul in several years — for business travellers particularly, it changes the value proposition on a 9-hour overnight flight to Delhi or Mumbai.

Virgin Atlantic Economy: The Underrated Package — and the Premium Economy That Genuinely Earns Its Price

Virgin Atlantic is the airline most often chosen by UK travellers who've flown all three and reached a conclusion. That reputation has a specific basis, and it's worth understanding exactly where it comes from — because it doesn't apply equally across all cabins.

In economy — called Economy Classic and Economy Delight — Virgin Atlantic is broadly comparable to British Airways. The 787-9 cabins are comfortable, the IFE works consistently, the food service shows more creativity than BA at the same price point. Virgin Atlantic Economy Delight offers 3 extra inches of legroom compared to standard economy, and passengers can choose seats for free when booking directly on Virgin's website. For a 9-hour overnight flight, that 3-inch difference in legroom has real value — the difference between arriving stiff and arriving functional.

Virgin Atlantic allows 2 free checked bags in economy — matching British Airways and contrasting favourably with Air India's economy fare class variations, where some lower-priced tickets carry reduced baggage allowances. For NRI families travelling with significant luggage, this parity matters.

Where Virgin genuinely separates itself from both competitors is in Premium Economy — Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy on the 787-9 features 35 seats in a 2-3-2 configuration with deeply padded leather seats, wireless headphones, amenity kits on overnight flights, and meals pre-selectable from 7 days before departure. A real crew welcome drink on boarding. Food served with metal cutlery on proper tableware. The cabin atmosphere is genuinely different from economy — not just incrementally wider seats.

At 30–50% above economy pricing, Premium Economy provides nearly business-class comfort at a fraction of the cost — and on Virgin specifically, the service culture in that cabin is consistently cited as one of the better premium economy experiences across any airline on the UK–India corridor. For overnight departures from Heathrow to Delhi or Mumbai — where arriving rested directly determines the quality of your first 24 hours in India — the £150–£250 premium over economy is among the most justified upgrade decisions on this route.

Virgin Atlantic's A350 premium economy has 56 seats in a 2-4-2 layout, while the 787-9 has 35 in 2-3-2. For night flights, the 787-9 configuration is preferred — the A350's density makes it less restful despite the larger screen size. If you're booking Virgin Premium Economy specifically for the overnight comfort advantage, check your aircraft type. The 787-9 is the configuration to prioritise.

Virgin's one acknowledged gap: no First Class. Upper Class is Virgin's highest cabin, and it's genuinely excellent — the Upper Class Suite with direct aisle access and the Clubhouse lounge at Heathrow T3 make it competitive with British Airways' Club World on the India corridor. But if you specifically want a four-cabin experience — Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First — only British Airways offers it on this route, with the First cabin returning to Mumbai flights before year-end 2026.

Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy on the 787-9 is widely considered the best premium economy product on the UK–India corridor in 2026 — at 38 inches of pitch with leather seats and pre-selected meals, the £150–£250 overnight upgrade cost has a direct arrival-condition payoff.

Business Class: Club World vs Upper Class vs Air India Business

This is where the comparison gets genuinely interesting — and where Air India's 2026 transformation is least discussed.

Air India Business Class (new Vistara-derived product on A350-900): Air India's expanded Heathrow operations deploy both A350-900 and 787-9 aircraft, both offering three cabin classes — Business, Premium Economy, and Economy. The A350-900 business class features a fully flat bed, direct aisle access, and a significantly improved product from Air India's historical business class offering. Return fares from approximately £1,800–£3,500. For NRI travellers specifically, Air India's business class carries the practical advantage of arriving directly at Delhi's Terminal 3 — no transit through Dubai, Doha, or Abu Dhabi — and the crew service is notably more personal on the new fleet.

British Airways Club World: BA's Club World business class is one of the most debated products in long-haul aviation — the forward-facing seat design and headroom limitations in older configurations draw consistent criticism, though BA's ongoing Club Suite rollout is gradually replacing the older product across its long-haul fleet. Where BA genuinely wins for business class India travellers: the Concorde Room and first-class lounges at Terminal 5 for eligible passengers, the Oneworld alliance connections for ongoing travel, and the returning First Class cabin to Mumbai — the only four-cabin product available from a London carrier to India. Return fares from approximately £2,400–£5,000+.

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class: The Upper Class Suite on Virgin's 787-9 and A350 offers direct aisle access from every seat, a proper flat bed, and access to the Clubhouse at Heathrow Terminal 3 — one of the better airport lounges in the UK. Virgin's cabin crew in Upper Class is consistently cited as warmer and more attentive than British Airways' Club World service. Return fares from approximately £2,200–£4,800. The absence of First Class means Virgin maxes out at Upper Class — which for most business class travellers is more than sufficient, but for ultra-premium seekers, BA is the only option on this corridor.

The business class verdict: for pure cabin comfort on current aircraft, Air India's A350 business class and Virgin's Upper Class are the two strongest products. BA's Club Suite on refreshed aircraft is excellent when you get it — but BA still operates older Club World seats on some India rotations. Check your aircraft configuration on BA as carefully as you would on Air India.

All three airlines depart from different Heathrow terminals — Air India from T2, British Airways from T5, Virgin Atlantic from T3 — a logistical detail that matters for connecting passengers and lounge access on the same journey.

The Food and IFE Comparison — Where Each Airline Actually Stands

Food: Air India wins this category without qualification for travellers who want Indian food. The biryani, dal, parathas, and vegetarian thali on Air India's long-haul routes are consistently the most authentic Indian meal available at 35,000 feet. Air India's food quality is frequently cited as one of the airline's genuine strengths, with a menu significantly more suited to South Asian dietary requirements than either British Airways or Virgin Atlantic. For vegetarian travellers specifically — a significant proportion of the British Indian community — Air India's default menu coverage is unmatched.

British Airways' World Traveller catering is adequate long-haul economy food — Indian option available, but it's an approximation rather than the real article. The meal service is organised, portions are reasonable, the quality is consistent. Virgin Atlantic's economy food is broadly comparable to BA, with slightly more creative menu design and better pre-order options available on the airline's app from 7 days before departure.

IFE in 2026: This category is shifting. Air India's new A350 and retrofitted 787s carry the Thales AVANT Up system — large, responsive screens, wide content library, USB-C charging. British Airways' rollout of free Starlink WiFi is the 2026 development that changes the IFE calculus — BA is now rolling out free Starlink WiFi which has prompted Virgin Atlantic to accelerate its plans on this front. Virgin currently offers paid WiFi; BA is moving to free. On older BA 777-200ERs, the IFE is dated. On the 787-9 with new screens, it's genuinely good.

The honest IFE ranking as of April 2026: Air India A350/new 787 = excellent. British Airways 787-9 with Starlink = excellent + free WiFi. Virgin Atlantic 787-9 = very good, paid WiFi. British Airways 777-200ER = the weakest of the available aircraft types.

Baggage: All three airlines offer 2 checked bags in standard economy. Air India's lower-priced fare classes sometimes reduce this — check your specific fare class before booking. British Airways allows 2 checked bags for free, as does Virgin Atlantic — important for NRI families carrying significant luggage between the UK and India.

Loyalty Programmes: Avios vs Flying Club vs Air India Miles

This matters for frequent UK–India travellers who make the journey multiple times per year.

British Airways Executive Club (Avios): Part of the IAG group and Oneworld alliance — Avios earned on BA India flights can be redeemed across British Airways, Iberia, Finnair, Qatar Airways, and American Airlines among others. British Airways Club elite status gets Oneworld alliance benefits when flying partner carriers — highly valuable if your travel extends beyond India to multiple destinations. The Avios programme's sweet spots allow disproportionately good redemption value on short to medium haul flights within Europe.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: Virgin Atlantic points top British Airways Avios when it comes to the value you can get from redemptions — both in economy and business class. Virgin's SkyTeam alliance connections (Air France, KLM, Delta) give Flying Club a different but equally useful redemption network to Avios. For London-based travellers who also fly to the US frequently, Virgin's Delta partnership is particularly valuable. Unlike British Airways, Virgin Atlantic doesn't charge to select a standard seat — a practical saving that BA charges for on most fare classes without elite status.

Air India's Flying Returns: The least mature loyalty programme of the three but actively being rebuilt post-Tata acquisition. For travellers who exclusively fly to India and back, Flying Returns points on the A350 and 787-9 flights accumulate usefully. The programme's primary limitation: redemption options outside the Air India and Star Alliance network are narrower than Avios or Flying Club for a UK-based member.

The Heathrow Terminal Factor — A Detail No Comparison Article Covers

All three airlines operate from Heathrow — but from different terminals, and the practical difference matters more than most guides acknowledge.

Air India: Terminal 2 (The Queen's Terminal). T2 is modern, well-organised, and less congested than T5. The Air India lounge at T2 is available for business class passengers. For international arrivals into London, T2 handles a wide range of Star Alliance carriers — useful if your India journey connects onward to another Star Alliance destination.

British Airways: Terminal 5. British Airways flies out of Terminal 5 for long-haul flights. Given the scale of BA's operations, check-in can be extremely crowded and premium economy lines can be hard to find, though an army of staff makes the terminal navigable. T5 is the largest single-terminal building in the UK — the Concorde Room and first-class lounges for eligible passengers are among the best airport facilities in Europe, but the sheer scale of T5 means a lot of walking. Allow extra time.

Virgin Atlantic: Terminal 3. T3 is Virgin's base and home to the Clubhouse — consistently rated one of the top airport lounges in the world for Upper Class passengers. For economy and premium economy travellers, T3 is functional and straightforward. Less impressive than T5 for non-lounge passengers, but more manageable in scale.

The terminal factor becomes most relevant if you're connecting from a domestic UK flight or arriving from another international destination — terminal transfers at Heathrow require clearing security again and can take 45–75 minutes. If your inbound flight lands at T5 and your India flight departs from T2 or T3, factor that time explicitly into your connection calculation.

The Verdict: Which Airline to Book by Traveller Type

There is no single winner in this comparison. There's a right answer for each type of traveller — and here it is stated plainly.

If you're flying economy and price is your primary filter: Book Air India, but only after checking your aircraft registration on SeatGuru. On an A350-900 or retrofitted 787-9, Air India's economy at £302–£380 in off-peak months is the rational choice — comparable cabin quality to BA or Virgin at £100–£150 less per person. On an older unrenovated 787-8, reconsider and pay the premium for British Airways or Virgin.

If you're flying economy and want the most reliable consistent experience: Book British Airways for the free Starlink WiFi, the improved 787-9 cabin product, and the T5 logistics. Pay the £80–£120 premium over Air India's best fares with confidence that you know what you're getting. From September 19, BA's third daily Delhi service also gives more departure time flexibility than before.

If you're upgrading to Premium Economy: Book Virgin Atlantic on the 787-9. Virgin's Premium Economy is widely considered the best product at its price point on the UK–India corridor — leather seats, wireless headphones, pre-selected meals, and the service culture difference that genuinely changes an overnight flight experience. British Airways World Traveller Plus is a strong alternative on its newer aircraft; Air India doesn't offer Premium Economy.

If you're flying business class: Air India A350 or Virgin Upper Class are the two strongest products in 2026. BA Club Suite on newer aircraft is excellent when you get it — but check aircraft type. BA First Class returning to Mumbai is the only four-cabin experience available nonstop from London, making it the choice for ultra-premium travellers specifically.

If you're travelling with elderly passengers or young children: Air India for the Indian food quality, the warm crew service, the nonstop routing, and the cultural familiarity that genuinely reduces the stress of long-haul travel for passengers unfamiliar with UK carrier service norms. Virgin Atlantic's free seat selection in economy also makes family seating logistics easier than BA's fee-charging approach for standard seats.

For the full pricing picture across all months and how to find the cheapest fares on all three airlines simultaneously, see FlyFlick's UK–India month-by-month price breakdown and the complete London airport comparison. And before you finalise any booking — add VisitorsCoverage travel insurance first. Medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and delay costs from $1/day (~£0.80). VisitorsCoverage. EKTA offers budget coverage from $0.99/day as a secondary option. EKTA

Compensair covers you for up to €600 (£510) per passenger for delays over 3 hours under UK261 — even nonstop mechanical delays at Heathrow are not uncommon on any carrier. Compensair

Get your India eSIM activated before boarding. Saily's India 5G eSIM from ~$8.50 (£6.70) for 7 days activates before your Heathrow departure. Saily. For 2+ week or multi-city trips, Yesim's unlimited plan covers you across Indian networks. Yesim

FlyFlick's 700+ airline search surfaces all three nonstop carriers on the same results page for your specific dates — the fare gap between Air India and Virgin Atlantic in May and September is often under £100, making the aircraft-quality comparison the deciding factor rather than price.

Bottom Line

The three-airline comparison from London to India in 2026 has a clearer answer than it's usually given credit for. Air India wins on price and on Indian food — and on new A350 or 787-9 aircraft, the economy cabin has earned its place alongside British Airways and Virgin Atlantic at a lower fare. British Airways wins on free WiFi, departure time flexibility from September, route depth to secondary Indian cities, and the only First Class product on this corridor. Virgin Atlantic wins on premium economy, Upper Class, free seat selection, and the service culture that makes a 9-hour overnight flight meaningfully more comfortable.

Check your aircraft on Air India. Check whether your BA flight uses the 787-9 or 777. Book Virgin Premium Economy if you're upgrading — it's the best use of the price difference on this route. And run all three airlines through FlyFlick's 700+ airline search on your specific dates before deciding — the fare gap shifts monthly, and on some September and October dates, the difference between Air India and British Airways narrows to under £50.

✈️ Your London to India Airline Planning Checklist

🛡️ VisitorsCoverage — Trip cancellation, medical and delay cover from $1/day (~£0.80). Add before confirming any flight on any of the three airlines. 🛡️ EKTA — Budget secondary insurance from $0.99/day at ektatraveling.com.

✈️ FlyFlick Flight Search — Compare Air India, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic across 700+ airlines in one search. Filter nonstop-only to compare like for like.

✈️ Compensair — Claim up to €600 (£510) for delays over 3 hours under UK261. Mechanical delays affect all three carriers — file from your phone after landing.

📱 Saily — India 5G eSIM from ~$8.50 (£6.70) for 7 days. Activate before boarding T2, T3 or T5. 📱 Yesim — Unlimited data for 2+ week or multi-city India trips.

🛂 India e-Visa — Apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in. £18.35 tourist e-visa. Allow 4 business days minimum. 🛂 Aircraft check — For Air India: look up your flight registration on SeatGuru before booking. For BA: confirm 787-9 or 777-200ER on your specific date.

Check your aircraft. Pick your cabin. Fly informed.